Once again, The Progress would like to send birthday greetings to Herman Austin, as we did in 1995 when he was 97 years of age. Now on Feb. 12, he will reach his 100 birthday. He always said he and old Abe Lincoln had the same birthday -the day, not the year, as Lincoln was born in 1809. Herman has seen this century from its beginning. Born in 1898, the son of Jones A. Austin and Ella Holland Austin, he had three half-brothers. Walter A. Austin of Franklin, Tn., John Clinton Austin of Scotts Hill and Lon S. Austin of Lexington. He had an older half sister, Mrs. Nora Attaway. They are all now deceased. His two sisters were the late Miss Jewell Austin of Lexington and Mrs. Louise McPeake of Memphis.

He has survived his wife, the former Marguerite Haggard, who died in 1981 and their two sons, both dentists, Dr. Billy Bob Austin of Huntsville, Ala., and Dr. John Austin of San Antonio, Texas. He has several grandchildren and great­grandchildren, but lives alone in the family home on White Street. His only concession to growing older is a hearing loss and dependency on Meals On Wheels for his noon meal five days a week. Other than that, he looks after himself, goes to Sunday school ever Sunday serving as president of the Men's Class at First United Methodist Church and attends Rotary Club. Herman grew up on a farm near Scotts Hill and had his early education in a one room, one teacher school. Later he attended Lexington City School and Lexington High School. After taking business training in Memphis, he served in World War I and is Henderson County's Veteran of that war. Upon his return, he worked for the city and began a long period of service with Lexington Electric System from 1921. He recalls that a 75 horse-power engine, coal-fired, steam engine, produced electricity for residents of Lexington, but only for lights and on cloudy days. The plant would be closed on bright sunny days except on Friday afternoons for women to do the week's ironing. Imagine that! We, who use electricity so freely, take it for granted that it will be there for us. In 1921, many well-to-do families had homes which had not been wired for electricity and often those who did, had to be contacted by a messenger [often Herman] to pick up unpaid bills so their own salaries could be paid.

By 1929, Lexington Electric System had 1,253 customers. In 1995, it had more than 18 thousand. Beginning with 3 employees - Mr. Austin and 2 women - it now has a big force and an office in Parsons. After Herman retired from the Electric System, he and his wife moved to a new home on the Tennessee River, 3 miles from Saltillo, and lived there 10 years, until health problems compelled them to return here. From his wood stove to a microwave oven, Herman has seen many changes. It has been said, "Birthdays are good for us. Statistics show that people who have the most, live the longest." We are amazed and inspired by all he does, and we send our best wishes for a happy birthday and joy in the days to come.

The Lexington Progress "Interesting People" by Doris Jarrett February 4, 1998